Welcome Home!

Every soldier that was in Vietnam has a different view of that
part of their life. The sights and sounds effected everyone in ways
that sometimes cannot be told. I have talked to guys that were
there that just don't like discussing details, others are more than
willing to discuss their experiences. I guess the thing to remember
is that everyone's time in Vietnam was personal. We were all very
young and saw and did things that people back in the world just
could not understand. We came home to a country that was opposed to
what we were doing there and we just tried to "fit in" again. We
all just wanted to get "normal" again. Some of us did, and some
didn't. However ALL of us will never forget! As hard as we try, we
never will forget! The details happened long ago and names and
places escape us. This project has jogged my memory about a lot of
things that took place. As you read through this site please
remember all of us have different stories. Even the guys that I was
with. Vietnam was a very large country, about the size of
California. There were mountains, jungles, oceans, islands, swamps,
marshes, grassy areas, rocky areas, weather that was hot and dry,
then the other half of the year WET. Monsoons where it rained all
day and all night. One thing I can say for sure was I never saw
snow! As you read other stories about soldiers in Vietnam, remember
one thing. The guy on our left and the guy on our right would have
given their lives for us and we would have done the same for them.
It was the only way we could survive. Perhaps this is reason
Vietnam Vets have such strong feelings about their experience. This
is the part that others can't seem to relate to.

About this web site

In January of 2003 I rented the movie "We Were Soldiers" with Mel Gibson portraying Lt. Col Hal Moore of 1 battalion 7th Cavalry. During the movie I was remembering small details of my time in Vietnam one of which was flying on helicopters as was the normal method for movement by the 1st Cavalry Division. At that moment I could not remember which unit I was with so I started to research though my old army papers that I had kept all these years and found that I had worked with D company 1st Battalion 8th Cavalry 1st Cavalry Division. I began my search by "googling" 1st Cavalry Division on the internet. To my surprise I found a number of web sites devoted to different units that served with the "Cav" in Vietnam. However I didn't find anyone that had a web site for D 1/8. It was during this research that I found the "The Vietnam Project" that was prepared by Texas Tech University. After spending some time doing research on the information they had collected I stumbled across their collection of documents that were provided for the 1st Battalion 8th Cavalry. This collection consisted of a copy of the daily officers log for almost every day the 1st Cav was in Vietnam. Imagine finding the story of your life recorded on the internet! I was able to locate the records of my time in Vietnam including the report of my Medivac on June 3rd of 1970. I knew at that time that I needed to put information together to share with my family and figured I might as well share it with others also. This was the start of this web site. Since then I have been fortunate enough to have found others that served with our unit and with myself. The willingness of others to share their stories and photos (including audio) has added to the dimensions of the web site.

Be sure to read Ed Noreds story with photos link. Ed kept his many letters, and photos of his time in Vietnam. Many of his experiences were similar to mine and his photos are of the people areas and experiences we shared.

I hope the memories that we share are enjoyed.

Gordon Swenson RVN 69/70

"It is foolish and wrong
to mourn the men who died.
Rather we should thank God that such men lived."
- General George S. Patton -

5-25-2019 Memorial Day 2019. Hope everyone has a great weekend! Enjoy time with family and freinds. But also take a moment to remember those we lost.

12-18-2018 Here's wishing everyone a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!

11-17-2018 Ed Nored is safe and sound!

7/31/2018 I found out this morning that Lt. Ed Griffith has past away Sunday July 29th. Ed was the Forward Observer for my unit in Vietnam. I had the honor of being his radio operator for a short period of time. Ed and I 'found' each other about 10 years ago and corresponded regularly.
May he rest in peace.

5/31/2018 I received some photos from a friend of Doc Quinn (Fern). As some of you may be aware Fern has been working on getting Woodstock, NY (Doc Quinns hometown) to recognize him. She was successful in getting recognition last year on Memorial day and this year the town named a street after him! Thanks to Fern for all of her hard work memorializing Doc Quinn.
Link to the Memorial Day 2017 images and story. Link
Link to Doc Quinn Tribute (new photos at the bottom of the page). Link

5/23/2018: Please take a moment out of your busy Memorial Day weekend to remember those we lost.

2/4/2018: I have updated the website in regards to new information we have received from one of the medics that was involved during the firefight of July 12, 1970. Doc Tommy Hunt was the '3rd medic'. Here's a link to the section of the website with his comments: http://www.webewebbiers.com/vietnam/ednoredstorypg18.htm Scroll down to July 12th and look for the Red "UPDATE"

December 2017:
Here's wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!!

8/19/2017: I received an email from Terry Lawrence in regards to the death of one of the members of D company: "We lost a brother on august 3rd he was the best friend anybody could ask for he will be missed by everyone who knew him
He was in the second platoon I believe it was so long ago and he never would talk about Nam I tried to post it on our website but never got it done then realized I had your email
I hope all is well with you and yours."
Terry Lawrence

5/28/2017: This memorial day there is a special event taking place for one of ours. Please click on the following link to see the speech and photos for the memorial day celebration of the life of Doc Richard Quinn. Richard Quinn Memorial

4/8/2017: As noted in the 4/4/2017 update below. I will be adding new photos of Doc Quinn. We need your help in identifying people and places. I will add information as I get it. Thanks in advance for you help!

1/2/2017: We received a photo (link) was provided to us from a friend of Richard Quinn who is working with the Quinn family and old friends to put together a story of his life. Richards younger brother in particular is working close with Fern Malkine-Falvey in gathering details. Richard Quinn was the only person from Woodstock, New York who was killed in Vietnam. He was born July 23, 1948. If you have any fond stories or photos you'd like to share. We will pass them on to Fern. (please click on the "email me" button at the bottom of the page and I will forward the information to Fern. Thanks Gordon)

10/17/2016: Richard "Dick" Fowler of 3rd platoon passed away Oct. 11, 2016 at his home. He was buried at the McKean Memorial Park, Lafayette Pa. ..Online condolences may be made at www.hollenbeckcahill.com Thanks for your service Dick and God Bless.

VIETNAM VETERANS

Crisis Line

1-800-273-8255 Press 1

Veterans day 2010

My youngest daughter and her family purchased a flag in my honor for the Murrieta, veterans day "Field of Honor" Over 2000 flags were on display. It was quite a sight!

Important Message from John Dennison (1st Cav Medic)

Memorial Day 2007. Received notice of the death of John Dennison.......

I have received some bad news last week and I wonder if you could read this message and forward it to any Vietnam Veteran that you may know or anyone you may think would benefit from reading the information. Here is the link: http://www.1stcavmedic.com/renal-cancer.htm

Special ThanksThis web page was developed to record my time in Vietnam. I have always expressed that this was a time I would never wish to go through again... However it was a time I would NOT have wanted to miss. My extreme gratitude to all involved with this project!